Patrick Rock • I think there might have been some kind of mistake... • Interactive Installation
Some blond guy who also blogs for PORT is drooling over this internationally-experienced, native Oregonian and current PNCA Intermedia Artist in Residence's work because he had hoped Rock's installation, Cool, would be in his recent Inertia group show. The Styrofoam coffin was in Germany at the time. Now you have a chance to see what all the fuss is about!
Opening Reception • Thursday February 2, 6-9pm • Closes Feb 28Interactive Media Arts Gallery, PNCA • 1241 NW Johnson Street • Tel. 503.226.4391

Carol Hepper • Selections 1996-2005 • Installation, Mixed Media Judy Cooke • Cairo-Paris 2001-2005 • Drawings and Paintings
These are two nationally recognized artists, both which have work in the permanent collection of the Portland Art Museum. Hepper is based in New York and is known for her use of non-traditional materials such as copper sculptures, gouache drawings, and three dimensional installation works incorporating fish skins and monofilament. Cooke's work includes small collages and minimal paintings on wood panels of subtle color and heavily worked and scraped through surfaces. The two shows sound sensually-appealing.
Opening Reception • February 2, 6-9 pm • Closes Feb 25 Elizabeth Leach Gallery • 417 NW 9th Avenue

Jonnel Covault • Searching for Wildness • Linocuts
Covault's works are full of depth and movement. Documenting place, a few of her pieces are particularly strong with a rich use of negative space and composition. She banks on the "power of nature" (with some cityscapes), geometric shapes, and shoreline observations.
Opening Reception • February 2, 6 to 9pm • Ends Feb 26Beppu Wiarda Gallery • 319 NW 9th Avenue • Tel. 503.241.6460

Jeff Jahn • Romance Languages • Painting and Sandcastle Installation
According to Jahn, this unsweetened window installation "has very little to do with bodice ripping paperback novels and Valentine's Day... In the case of this window project the title is an allusion to some of the common and pervasive roots of the visual experience." Jahn attempts to trigger a sense of the uneasy by combining components of art and science, anime, grafitti and the unknown of fairytales.
Open 24 hours a day, view from sidewalk.
Show runs Jan 31 - Feb 25PDX Window Project • 405 NW 9th Avenue • Tel. 503.222.3068

Visual Codec • Online MagazineVisual Codec is an new online visual arts magazine with critics in Vancouver B.C., Seattle and Portland. Their goal is to further connect the Cascadian cities and their art scenes. At 8:00 PM on First Thursday some of Visual Codec's staff (including the editor "m.") and a few artists from Seattle will be ensconced in Portland's Pearl District at the Lowbrow Lounge. Click here for more info

Yes and there is a real nature theme going on between Hepper at Leach, my work at PDX window, Kristen Miller at PDX and Steensma at PullDeff.

PDX knows about the image problem already, they will fix their site, many of the gallery sites dont get updated fully until today. (PS the install went well... labels will be up today too). As for PNCA it's Johnson all the way.

Lastly many of you know there are gallery previews for most the main gallery shows today. PDX isn't doing one though, but they will be open till 8:00 for 1st Thurs.

In a shameless bit of self-promotion, Portland Modern would also like to remind PORT readers that we are opening two exhibitions tomorrow, February 2. Marc Manning, TJ Norris, Mariana Tres, and Craig Payne will all be featured at the Portland Art Center (32 NW 5th Ave) while Holly Andres & Andrew Myers are showing at Ogle (310 NW Broadway). Both receptions open tomorrow at 6pm.

Sorry you didnt like it but these are our picks (I had nothing to do with my stuff being listed either). For a comrehensive list try the wweek, these are picks (as they have always been). Still, we respect your opinion.

The "ESL" Tilt listing is a gallery and it is a new development worth poining out. J. Nagy, who is running Tilt might just bring a lot more consistent quality to the lofts (which has been lacking except for the ever reliable zeitgeist gallery).

Double J-
I know it is not supposed to be an across the borard listing, but still......this is PORTLAND and there is alot going on.
I am so glad that you noted zeitgeist as being reliable. I feel the same way and almost hesitated putting down Everett Station becauseI bellieve in paul so much. I am actually flyring zeitgeist on the urbanhonking supercal for first thursday for that very reason right now.

I agree there is a massive amount of stuff going on, that is why we provide some "picks". The ESL are often unrealiable but often there is at least 1-3 good shows per month. Also, the individual bloggers have a lot of autonomy.

I nominate Ethan Ham's show at the Art Institute of Portland. His "EMail
Erosion" contraption eroads foam as you spam the installation.

I would also like to add, for what seems like the hundredth time, that our listings are based on the press releases we receive. We at PORT are all incredibly busy and don't have the time to sniff out all the arts-related events in town, so we rely on the information that is sent to us. To be considered for our listings, please send info (2 weeks in advance) to calendar@portlandart.net. That's all the hand-holding we can provide.

Yes ESL is a "scene" but are they serious? Today cafes like Stumptown are selling more art than the ESL. Let's hope Rake, open 6 days a week 2-8 will turn up the relevance of the entire ESL just a notch.

Posted by: Criticaleye-notpen at February 2, 2006 10:29 AM

I think it is geat that cafes like Stumptown, Valentines and 1/2&1/2 show so much art work, and that artists like going to these places to share ideas, dreams, gossip etc. it sort of raises the bar at the bottom of the scene, and makes galleries seem boaring and SOUL-LESS if they don't vave a "vibe" or feeling people can expect and find when the go there.
plus I would take a cup of stumptown coffee over a glass of shitty red wine any day/night.

hey that is FUNNY. i forgot to type my url on that last comment. your website's brain interpreted my name and designated a website for it. it would be grand if i were half as accomplished as the dude it chose.

Well, as to the comments on the lofts; and as part owner of the couch (like the thing you sit on not the street [although I guess you could sit on a street but, it would be much more dangerous than the furniture]) gallery in the lofts we hope to never be serious just accessible. Also, on many occasions we serve Kool Aide not cheap wine (on many other occasions though we do serve cheap wine).

Posted by: ric at February 6, 2006 11:53 AM

Whatever sales the Lofts generate, I have come across more than one artist there who grew into significance. I still think Zeitgeist is and was important. There was probably a peak at those Lofts, when Zeitgeist was next to Soundvison and Gavin Shettler... but the fact that they are still in operation, giving so many opportunities on this kind of relaxed scale, is unusual.